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Civics and Citizenship Year 10 - Coggle Diagram
Civics and Citizenship Year 10
Principles of Australia's System of Government
1.Governments must protect the rights and freedoms of the individual.
2.Governments must make laws that reflect the views and values of the people.
Governments must be accountable to the people.
4.There must be separation of powers
• No single group or body within our parliamentary system has power over both the political and legal systems
Key concepts
Westminster System
A parliament consisting of two chambers or houses, that is elected by the people to make laws on their behalf
A sovereign (such as a king or queen, or governor general)
To act as the head of state, or hold various powers including being required to give final approval to all laws made by the parliament
In Australia our federal and state government are modelled on the Westminster system
Justice
• People should treat each other in a manner that is fair and balanced for all.
• The key features of the WA and Aus legal systems are designed to deliver justice to all.
• E.g. the right to a fair trial, legal representation, unbiased juries
Democratic Values
• Democratic Values are the beliefs and ideas that are held by our society as a democracy
• Respect
Treating others with consideration and valuing their views, beliefs and rights
• Equality
Rights and privileges for all without discrimination
All citizens have the same right and oportunties
• Fairness
All people are treated fairly, or without unjustice , equal opportunity
• Freedom
able to have privileges and responsibilities without interference
Participation
• Good citizens contribute or take part in society through activities such as voting in an election or referendum, serving on a jury, or paying taxes
• One of the most important ways we participate in democracy is by voting in elections
• Governments can also give citizens the opportunity to participate in important decisions outside of elections and referendums
Democracy
• A system of government run by the people, for the people
• People have the power to determine how they will be ruled or managed
• Representative Democracy
Representatives are elected to make laws on our behalf
• Citizens over the age of 18 are required to vote in state and federal elections. It is optional to vote in local elections
Rights and responsibilities
Right to vote, trial by jury, freedom of religion and discrimination
Refers to our entitlements and duties as citizens
Separation of Powers
Executive
power to administer or implement the law; held by the governor-general (as the Queen’s representative), and the Prime Minister and senior ministers
Members
Governor general
Prime minister
Senior members of parliament
Government departments
Judicial
The power to apply and interpret the law; held by the courts and allows them to enforce the law and settle disputes
Members:
High court
Other courts
Legislative
Lower house- House of representatives
150 members elected by the people to serve a three-year term
purpose of the reps is to discuss, debate and scrutinise proposals for creating and changing Commonwealth laws
consists of members who can represent the views, values and desires of people from all around the country
Upper house- Senate
consists of equal members from each state regardless of the state’s population size
role of the senate is to represent the interest of the states and prevent the commonwealth government passing discriminatory laws by initiate, discuss and review new laws
76 members elected by the people to serve a six-year term
Systems of Government
Australia
History
1788 British arrived in Australia
o Each colony had their own parliament
1st of Jan 1901- parliament passed law to unite the colonies to form one federal system of Parliament
Type of Government.
Representative democracy: system of government run by the people, for the people. Representatives are elected to make laws on our behalf.
Head of state: The Queen
Levels of Government
Three levels of government
Federal: power to make laws that apply to the entire country. Eg. Immigration, currency
o Head: Prime minister
State: power to make laws that apply to the state. Eg. Schools
o Head: premier
Local: responsibilities for services in local area. Eg. Rubbish collection
o Head: Mayor
Structure of national Parliament
Bicameral System (two houses)
House of Representatives (lower house)
o 151 members
The senate (upper house)
o 76 members
The English monarch (Queen): represented by the Governor General
Separation of Powers
No single group within the parliamentary system has power over both the political and legal system.
Legislative: power to make the law
o House of reps and Senate
Executive: power to implement the law
o GG, PM, Ministers
Judicary: power to apply the law
o High Court, Federal courts
Indonesia
History
1945 after Indonesians claimed their independence the Dutch and Japanese, they became a republic
Dutch ruled for 300 years
A small group of Indonesians set up a temporary government and declared the nation an independent republic
Levels of Government
Three levels of government
National
Provincial
District
• Each levels of government are elected by the people to make laws on their behalf
Type of Government
Independent Republic:
Representative Democratic Republic: system of government where there is no head of state and where people vote for their representatives. Gov makes and implements Indonesian law.
Head of state: The President
Structure of national Parliament
People’s Representative Council (lower house)
o 560 seats/members
Regional Representatives Council (upper house)
o 132 members
• Bills do not have to be passed by both houses to become law ( not bicameral)
Separation of Powers
Legislative: Power to make the law
o National, provincial, district, parliament
Executive: Power to implement the law
o President
Judiciary: Power to apply the law
o Court + Judges
Similarities and differences
Similarities
Representative democracy’s
Three levels of government
Separation of powers
Differences
Members of parliament
Names of houses
Bicameral
Threats to Australia's Democracy
Organised Crime
Costs our economy $15 million per year
Examples
Drug trafficking
Trafficking of weapons
Human trafficking
Threatens national security and safety of citizens
Refers to criminal groups and networks that undertake very carefully planned criminal activities
Corruption
Australia is viewed on having one of the least corrupt public or government sectors in the world. However, our ranking has dropped over the last five years due to an increase in corruption, bribery and fraud in various organisations
The immortal abuse of power for personal gain, is another factor that threatens democracies all around the world
Influence of those with invested interests
Eg. Philip Morris (tobacco company) donated to liberals to help with tobacco packaging laws
Eg. Charles Bass (Co-founder of mining company) donated $200 000 to the liberals
Concerns that a small amount of very wealthy individuals and large corporations have been able to have a disproportionate amount of influence over government policy in Australia by making large political donations who benefit their interests
Lawlessness
Generally associated with gangs who act in an unruly and sometimes violent manner with no regard for the law
Increased number of young gangs over recent year
Involved in street violence, vandalism and organised crime
Poses risk to the public safety
Media Bias and Voting
Most voters gain their info from the media
The democratic system relies on individuals being able to make informed decisions about which political party would make laws that best reflect their views and values
It is therefore essential that the media present impartial and unbiased information, especially in the lead up to an election
International way to distinguish Corruption, with the Corruption Index
ranks countries “by their perceived levels of public sector corruption
determined by expert assessment
defines corruption as an “abuse of entrusted power for private gain.”
CPI
Climate Change - Social Issue
Definition
a long-term permanent shift in some or all parts of the weather conditions experienced in an area
Impacts
The green house effects
Methane and CO2 enter the atmosphere and increase the layer of GHGs, trapping heat which creates the enhanced greenhouse effect and warms the planet
Biodiversity loss
the loss of number and variety of animals in an area
Changes in temperature and rainfall
Droughts, floods, ect.
Increase in natural disasters
Ocean
Sea levels rising
coral bleaching
Temperature increase
Ice melts
Current Solutions
Re planting trees
Ecologi has planted 18 million trees in Australia to help with the deforestation issue of climate change and absorbing excess carbon dioxide
Domestic Climate Change Policy
engaging with stakeholder groups and the community on climate priorities
developing and coordinating renewable energy policy and regulation
administering climate change programs to help reduce emissions
developing and coordinating domestic climate change policy
supporting business and industry to innovate and adopt smarter practices and technologies
helping the land and agriculture sector reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing environment
Mitigation
Involves reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by reducing sources of these gasses (for example, the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat or transport) or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gasses (such as the oceans, forests and soil).
Limit Population
The U.N. Environmental Program estimates that it requires 54 acres to sustain an average human being today—food, clothing and other resources extracted from the planet. Continuing such population growth seems unsustainable.
Ultimately, a one child per couple rule is not sustainable either and there is no perfect number for human population. But it is clear that more humans means more greenhouse gas emissions.
Causes- Human Influence
Fossil fuels
Make up 76% of greenhouse gas emissions
When fossil fuels (coal) are burnt they produce carbon dioxide which contributes to the greenhouse gas effect causing the climate to change
1800s change- industrial revolution
Agriculture- methane
24% of our GHG emissions
Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming
Produce by livestock (cows, sheep) as they chew their food
Currently 1.4 billion cattle on earth. 1 cow produces 60-80kg of methane each year
Deforestation
As trees grow, they remove and store carbon dioxide from the air
When trees are cut down or burnt, their stored carbon dioxide is released into the air as carbon dioxide
Future solutions
Replant trees
Get more oxygen
Store up to 2/3rds of carbon emissions
Build upward
Uses less land= less tree clearing= more storage
More fertile land for farming and agriculture
Be conservative
only take what you need
Live a minimalistic lifestyle
Replace Wilderness
Allow populations to get back their numbers back
Conservation projects
Change power sources
Put solar panels in the Sahara example
Switch to renewable energy; wind, water and solar
United Nations
An organisation that promotes international cooperation
They work together to bring all nations together, focusing on human rights and international justice
General Assembly- where member nations meet to discuss issues and problems of global importance
Created in 1945
193 members
Commitments:
Helping nations work together to support poor people, reduce hunger and disease, promote literacy
Creating friendships between nations
Promote rights and freedoms for all
Providing a central point where nations can come together
International peace and security
Types of work the UN carries out
Provides food to 90 million people in 75 countries
Vaccinates 58% of the worlds children, saving 2.5 million lives per year
Assists over 34 million refugees and people fleeing war or famine
Combats climate change; works with 140 nations to prevent harmful emissions
Fights poverty, helping 370 million rural poor achieve better lives
Protects and promotes human rights
Mobilizes $12.5 billion in humanitarian aid to help people effected by emergencies
Australia's Role in the UN
One of the first 51 countries to become a member in 1945
Australia is not a powerful nation compared to other nations
Allows for Australia to have a voice in international affairs
Helps Australia protect its own economic and security interests
Australia's Role and Responsibilities
Peace keeping
Maintaining peace and security in a region
Protect civilians- civilians are those that are not on duty with the military, navy police or firefighting organisations
Oversees elections
Disarming those who were involved in fighting
Protecting and promoting human rights
Restoring rule of law to a region, meaning that legal institutes like the government are accountable for their actions
Australia has contributed with 3500 Australians serving in peace and security operations
Human Rights
All people are born free and equal
Everyone is entitled to the same rights and freedoms
Everyone has the right to life
No one should be subject to torture or slavery
Everyone is equal before the law
No one should be subject to randomly being arrested, detained or exiled
Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN in 1945
Foreign Aid
Is assistance in the form of money, skills, or other resources
Alleviate poverty and assist in living standards
Assistance is offered after a country has experienced an emergency like the typhoon in 2013, Philippines
Millennium Development Goals offering a percentage of the nations national income to help provide to poorer countries
o Australia offers 0.33 %
Some recipients include: Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Cambodia, East Timor, Myanmar and Fiji
Environment
To serve and protect the environment we have responsibility to reduce green house gas emissions
2008 Australia became a full member of the Kyoto protocol, cutting 5% of emissions by 2020
